CAUGHT A BIRD

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 100, 21 October 1938, Page 4

CAUGHT A BIRD

SHOOK FOR JOCKEY I CANTERBURY PARK • i SYDNEY, Sept. 12.—Birds have m played a big part in freak sporting Happenings. Cricketers have caught birds in mistake for tho ball, a.j.d golfers have performed all sorts of weird feats with their unwitting assistance. j On the galloping track there are | many animals alleged to have run such , j speedy trials that they have caught ] the swallows, but until Saturday, no joekeyi .had ever caught a bird tv fide riding in a race. W. Lappin, the successful young apprentice in M. Poison’s stable at Ranchwick, goes down in the records as the ■ performer of the feat, . Lappin rode Starbine in the third i division of the Park Stakes. Nearing the bend at the foot of the hill Starbine ran into a, flock of doves, which, waited until the field was almost on ; them before they rose. One of the birds could not avoid Starbine, and ■ was scooped up in Lap-pin’s bent body • as he crouched on the horsy. it iay in liis lap, held lightly, by. the jockey's elbow, and remained there for about a furlong. Lappin had: ideas of bring- . f ing it back to the enclosure, but it I became necessary a little further on to raise his arms, and the. bird blew off. Lappin is not sure whether he or j the bird got the greater^shock.